Apparatus and Method for Taking Measurements in Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems User Equipment

1. A method for taking measurements in a user equipment (UE) device, the UE configurable for use in a mobile telecommunications system comprising a plurality of cells, the method comprising: receiving a measurement control set-up command at a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer; in response initializing layer 1 to enable taking a measurement consistent with the measurement control set-up command; monitoring for a change in state in the UE and, in response to a change in state, the RRC layer issuing a measurement control pause command to layer 1 ; on receipt of the measurement control pause command by layer 1 , layer 1 stopping use of the measurement settings initialized previously; monitoring for a next change in state in the UE and, in response to the next change in state, the RRC layer issuing a measurement control resume command to layer 1 ; and enabling, upon receipt of the measurement control resume command by layer 1 , layer 1 to resume use of the maintained measurement settings.

2. The method of claim 1 where the UE is configurable for use with a UMTS compliant cellular system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: taking measurements consistent with the measurement control set-up command by layer 1 after initialization; and taking further measurements after receipt of the measurement control resume command by layer 1 and after layer 1 is enabled to resume use of the maintained measurement settings.

4. A user equipment (UE) apparatus configurable to take one or more measurements, the UE also configurable for use in a mobile telecommunications system comprising a plurality of cells, the apparatus comprising: a microprocessor enabled to execute software stored on the UE such that the microprocessor, when executing the software, is enabled to detect that a measurement control set-up (MCS) command has been received; pass the MCS command to a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer; configure a layer 1 to take a measurement consistent with the MCS command; monitor for a change in state in the UE and, in response to a change in state, enable the RRC layer to issue a measurement control pause command to layer 1 ; on receipt of the measurement control pause command by layer 1 , have layer 1 stop further use of, and also maintain, the measurement settings initialized consistent with the MCS command previously received; monitor for a next change in state in the UE and, in response to the next change in state, enable the RRC layer to issue a measurement control resume command to layer 1 ; and on receipt of the measurement control resume command by layer 1 , configure layer 1 to resume use of the maintained measurement settings.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 where the UE is configurable for use with a UMTS compliant cellular system.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 where the microprocessor, when executing the software, directs the UE to take measurements consistent with the measurement control set-up command by layer 1 after initialization, and, directs the UE to take further measurements after receipt of the measurement control resume command by layer 1 and after layer 1 is enabled to resume use of the maintained measurement settings.